Academy
A Welcome from the Houseparents
A big welcome to Argyll House, and to Dollar Academy. We are delighted to have you in Argyll for the coming session.
We hope that you will enjoy your time with us, and that you will make the most of all that Dollar has to offer. You’re not expected to read and learn everything straight away, but we think that this booklet will give you all the information you are likely to need.
Of course – if you’re in doubt about anything, the best thing to do is to ask. We’re a very friendly house, in a friendly school, as you will soon discover, and everybody is happy to help.
We look forward to watching you thrive at Dollar Academy and going on to great successes.
Best wishes for a fantastic 2024/25 school year!
Mr and Mrs Johnston, Houseparents
Argyll House provides excellent accommodation for up to 25 girls at Dollar Academy.
Each year we welcome girls from all corners of the world. We aim to provide a stimulating, safe and supportive environment to ensure that you make the most of your time here.
If you are new to the boarding house, on your arrival we will assign you a buddy who will help you settle in, look after you and answer any questions you may have.
Argyll is a very welcoming and inclusive community and we are very happy to have you here with us.
House Tutors
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What is a Typical Day Like?
7.15am
7.45am - 8.15am
8.40am
12.30pm - 1.20pm
3.25pm
5.00pm
5.30pm
6.00pm
When do
we
Wake up - you will be woken by your Houseparent.
Morning routine and breakfast in the Dining Hall.
Time for school and to go to your form class.
Lunch is served in the school Dining Hall.
You can go to your co-curricular activities.
Dinner will be served in the Dining Hall.
House meetings (Sunday and Wednesdays only)
Prep time
get together to discuss things?
We have a House Meeting on a Sunday (6pm) and a Wednesday (5:30pm) to discuss matters affecting the house and to look at the week ahead.
Please feel free to come to Mr and Mrs Johnston at any other time during the week; our door is always open!
What Happens During Prep Time?
‘Prep’ is what we call homework at Dollar Academy. Prep time is very important and we expect the house to be quiet and settled. Prep starts at 6pm each night.
If you are in JI-JII, your prep time will be from 6-7pm and you will work in the supervised Prep Room. If you are in F1-F2 your prep time will be from 6-7.30pm and you will also work in the supervised Prep Room.
After prep time you have a variety of options available to you.
Depending on your year group, you are able to sign out of the boarding house to meet friends or to go to the shop in the town. The gym is also open in the evenings and there are also other organised activities on such as basketball, football, rounders and many more.
House Tutors, Assistant Housestaff & Domestic Staff
What is a typical day like?
Prep Time & Evening Activities
Curfews & Bedtime
House Registration
Areas of the House
How can I arrange to see friends/family?
Boundaries
What do we do at the weekend?
What if I don’t feel well?
What about when I get my period?
What should I wear?
Recreational Areas and Bathrooms/Shower Rooms
What do I do about money?
House Council & Food Forum
Fire Procedure
Your First Day: Getting Started / Term Dates
Packing List
When do I need to be back in the Boarding House?
Curfew (Term 1 until 30 September)
Form 5/6 Form 4 Form 3 Form 2 Form 1 Junior 1/2
9 45pm 9 30pm 9 15pm 9 00pm 8 45pm 8 30pm
Weekend extended curfew visiting other houses at discretion of HP/House Staff
Curfew (1 October until the end of Term 2)
Form 5/6 Form 4 Form 3 Form 2 Form 1
1/2
9 15pm 8 45pm 8 30pm 8 15pm 8 00pm 7 30pm
Weekend extended curfew visiting other houses at discretion of HP/House Staff
Curfew (Term 3)
Form 5/6 Form 4 Form 3 Form 2 Form 1 Junior 1/2
9 45pm 9 30pm 9 15pm 9 00pm 8 45pm 8 30pm
Weekend extended curfew visiting other houses at discretion of HP/House Staff
What time do I go to bed?
Bedtime
Form 6 Form 5 Form 4 Form 3 Form 2 Form 1 Junior 1/2 10 30-11pm 10-10 30pm 9 45-10:15pm 9 30-10pm 9-9 30pm 8 45-9 15pm 8 30-9pm
House Registration Times
During the week and at the weekend there are certain times where a whole house registration is necessary to account for the whereabouts of the boarders and ensure their safety. The registration times are listed below:
Monday, 6.00pm
Tuesday, 6.00pm
Wednesday, 6.00pm
Thursday, 6.00pm
Friday, 5.30pm
Saturday, 12.45pm
Sunday, 6.00pm
Morning registration takes place when the pupils are woken up by house staff. Pupils should make house staff aware prior to any registration time, if they are going to miss registration for any reason. This will be noted on the registration document.
Areas of the House
The boarding house kitchen is where after school snacks and suppers will be served. It is also where we have breakfast at the weekends, and where we cook meals together on occasion.
You are welcome to use the kitchen to prepare snacks, other food items and hot/cold drinks. We ask that you please clean up after yourself. There is a large sitting room with a pool table, electronic piano, and TV with gaming devices.
There is also a smaller TV room upstairs, and a garden with seating area, and basketball hoop. The sitting room and kitchen are lively, sociable areas of the house and we encourage everyone to come down and join the fun.
You can watch a Virtual Tour of the boarding house here.
What doors do I use to enter/exit the house?
The are two main entrances to the house: the front door facing the school, and the side entrance accessed via the garden. J1-F4 should use the side entrance, and F5 and F6 should use the front door.
There is a sign out book in the kitchen. Please speak to a member of staff and sign out when you are leaving the house outside of school hours.
Shoes are stored by the front door for F5 and F6, and in cupboards in the Prep Room for J1-F4. You should take your shoes off as soon as you come in to the house, and store them in your shoe box.
The doors are operated with keypads and you will be given the code when you arrive. It is very important for the security of the house that you do not give the door codes to anyone.
What do I do when I want to go out?
The signing in/out book will always be found in the kitchen. If you have permission for a day/weekend out you must sign in/out in addition to reporting to a member of staff.
You do not need to sign out if you are going to routine meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), an after school activity or an organised house trip.
For anything else when you leave the house, you must sign out and, on your return, you must sign in again.
Can friends and family visit me in the house?
Of course, you may have school friends visit you in the house but please remember to let a member of the house staff know and ensure they sign in when they arrive and sign out when they leave.
Please let the house staff know if your family are planning to visit. We will make sure there is a room free downstairs for you to have time together and we will try to ensure the house staff are around to welcome them.
No visitors are allowed upstairs without permission.
No one other than the occupants of a room are allowed in rooms unless the occupant is present or has given permission. This is very important and will help protect your belongings.
How can I arrange to see friends/family outside of the house?
You can go out at the weekends to stay with friends or family. In order to arrange to stay with a friend you need two emails giving permission; one from your parents and one from the host parent who you will stay with.
If you are being collected by your parent or guardian, then you just need to let us know in advance that this is happening. Permission emails should ideally be received by the Thursday before you want to go out.
You must sign out prior to leaving and then sign in when you return, please also tell a member of staff that you are leaving and again let them know when you return.
Cars and Transport
It is important you have opportunities to see your day pupil friends whilst you are boarding. If a boarder needs to travel in a car driven by a day pupil parent, they must have email permission sent to their houseparent in advance of the journey.
Only in special circumstances can a boarder keep their car at school. If you need to do this please request permission in writing from the Deputy Rector. The keys must be handed in to your Houseparent when you arrive at school and will be stored safely. Boarders are not permitted to travel in a car driven by another pupil.
Boundaries
Dollar is a safe and picturesque town to explore and enjoy in your free time, however there are some areas of Dollar where you are not allowed to be. These include:
Gloomhill Quarry
The mines at Vicar’s Bridge ‘Witches Cauldron’ in the Dollar Glen
The graveyard in Dollar
Pupils are allowed to be on the old railway line in daylight, for exercise purposes or walking to Tillicoultry, but you are not permitted to be on the old railway line a
You are allowed to enjoy playing on the golf course during the day. This area becomes out of bounds after dark.
You are allowed to enjoy the burn in the Millgreen, but no pupil should be in the burn at any point above the Millgreen. Only Form 3 pupils and above are allowed to walk up through the Glen to Castle Campbell.
If you would like to leave the town of Dollar you must speak with your house staff and plan your movements with them.
Pupils should not enter the area of the Gloomhill Quarry.
Pupils can enjoy the use of the golf course in the light, but the areas becomes out of bounds after dark.
The railway line is okay to visit but out of bounds after dark.
Pupils should not enter the burn at any point above the Millgreen. Only pupils in Form 3 or above can be using the paths through the glen up to Castle Campbell.
Pupils should not be in the graveyard at Dollar Parish Church.
What Do We Do at the Weekend?
We have regular House Trips either as a whole boarding community, with the whole House or with individual year groups.
These are organised termly and the termly plan is emailed to your families. You are encouraged to participate in as many of these as you can in order to get the most out of your boarding experience.
If you have any suggestions for weekend activities then please let us know. Our trips usually include:
Going to the cinema.
Shopping in Stirling, Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Going out for a meal.
Theatre trips.
Activities such as swimming, climbing or paintballing. Go-karting and Laser Quest.
We organise activities within the House too such as themed fun days and evening quizzes.
There are also many other boarding social events throughout the year such as Christmas parties and the Boarders Ceilidh, Book Groups, Senior Social Get Togethers as well as Sports Weekend.
How do I get involved and make new friends?
There are many co-curricular clubs and societies which you can join. It is a great way to meet people at these, and make friends on an informal basis. We would encourage you to make the most of these opportunities as they will enhance your experience of boarding at Dollar Academy.
What if I don’t feel well?
When you arrive in Dollar you will be registered with the local Health Centre. Should you need to visit the doctor, a member of staff will make an appointment for you. All members of house staff are trained in dispensing medication. The boarding house has a stock of ‘over the counter’ medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Boarders should not bring any medication from home unless it has been previously arranged between your parents and your Houseparent.
If you don’t feel well, please let the a member of house staff know. If you need to be absent from school, you will stay in your own room. The house staff will check on you every hour during the day to ensure you are feeling ok, that you are comfortable and that you have adequate supplies of food and water. Your meals will be ordered to the house, so you do not need to go to the dining hall if you are not feeling well.
If you have any medication with you, please hand it in to house staff immediately. Prescribed medication from overseas is acceptable if all information is ‘pre-translated' into English for safe administration. Nonprescribed medication from overseas is not accepted and should not be brought into the boarding house. If there are any questions about this, please contact the houseparents.
You are encouraged to maintain your own dentist at home and organise appointments for when you are at home during the holidays. We can organise an emergency dental appointment for you if necessary.
What about when I get my period?
You should bring your own sanitary products. You will be able to buy tampons and sanitary towels in both the village shop and pharmacy. If you run out, spare sanitary pads and tampons are available in the bathrooms both in the house and at school, or you can ask a member of house staff to find some for you. All of the toilets have grey sanitary bins, and we ask that you dispose of all pads and tampons in these bins only. If you require pain medication during your period, we can provide paracetamol or ibuprofen – please just ask a member of staff.
What Should I Wear?
During the school day, you should be in school uniform as outlined in our uniform list. Between August-October and AprilJune you will wear a short-sleeved shirt and no tie.
Between October-April your shirt will be long-sleeved and you will wear a tie. Your shirt should be tucked in, and when wearing it, your tie should be fully done up, and your top button should be fastened.
Kilts should be worn correctly. Blazers should be worn at all times. Any item worn under a school shirt or blouse should not have a visible logo or design.
For Physical Education lessons and exercise based co-curricular activities, you should wear Dollar Academy sports clothing as per the uniform list. Boarders should bring their own sports clothing for use in their own personal time.
Uniform is worn for school and to certain school occasions throughout the year. At all other times you are free to wear your own clothes.
All of your uniform, sports kit and casual clothing should be named using stick on/ sew on labels before you arrive in the boarding house. We ask you to use a named laundry bag for underwear, bras and tights. This is to ensure all your items get back to you safely after being in the laundry.
What do I do with my laundry?
As you can imagine, this is a very important part of the house routine. It is your responsibility to ensure all your dirty clothes are brought to the laundry. They will be washed, dried and ironed and returned to you as soon as possible, usually the same day. You should change your shirt, underwear and socks daily.
Your sports kit must be washed after each use, and it is your responsibility to put it in the wash when it needs to be done. Your bed linen is changed every two weeks.
All clothing should be, if possible, machine washable and clearly named. If you have any delicate items, such as dresses etc, please speak to a member of staff about washing them.
If you have any clothing still to be named please speak to the Assistant House Staff and they will do this for you.
Where can I watch TV and play games?
There is a TV in the sitting room downstairs, as well as a smaller TV room upstairs. Both TVs have Netflix, Disney, and Amazon. Downstairs you will also find a Nintendo Switch. We also have a karaoke machine, and a large selection of board games.
When watching films, please ensure you adhere to the classification appropriate for your age, unless you have permission to do otherwise.
Where do I shower and clean my teeth?
Argyll has two large bathrooms and one smaller bathroom for use by the house head and deputy. Both large bathrooms have three or four showers in cubicles that are large enough to change in, and six sinks.
There is one bath in the house. If you prefer a bath to a shower, please feel free to make use of it.
We will provide you with a toiletry box to store your shower products, toothbrush and toothpaste. We ask that these are stored in your bedrooms in order to keep the bathrooms clean.
The bathrooms are spacious and cleaned every day. We ask that you help to keep these areas tidy after use and also work with your peers to ensure that the facilities are shared fairly.
Will my birthday be celebrated?
In the evening, the whole house comes together to celebrate girls’ birthdays with a card, a rendition of Happy Birthday, and a home-baked cake
If your family has a treat planned, let us know as that can be accommodated.
Where can I practise my musical instrument?
A number of girls in the house play musical instruments. There is an electronic piano in the house which may be used for practice. You are encouraged to practise in the house either before, during or after prep time.
If you would like tuition in a particular instrument then please ask Mr or Mrs Johnston to help you arrange this.
What do I do about money?
Generally, most girls operate their own bank accounts and do not require cash.
However, if you do have large sums of money please hand it in to Mr or Mrs Johnston and we will look after it for you. You can take small amounts out as and when you require it.
Purses should be locked in your lockable space when not in your possession. Please take good care of your money and bank cards, these are your responsibility.
Am I responsible for my own property?
We insist on high standards in this area. We will provide you with adequate storage for your books and clothes. We encourage and expect you to keep your room tidy and take good care of your belongings.
Please make sure that you ask us to keep anything which is very valuable.
You have a lockable box in your room to store valuable possessions securely. You will need to provide a padlock for this.
When you arrive at the boarding house you should hand your passport and any other important documents into Mr and Mrs Johnston for safe keeping in your pupil file.
House Council and Food Forum
Every half term we run a House Council meeting in the boarding house. This is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and ideas on a wide variety of topics related to the school and your boarding experience.
We strive to make your boarding experience the best it can be, so these meetings are crucial to gain feedback and instigate change.
Your Head and Deputy of House run the House Council meeting. They then report to Mr and Mrs Johnston, and discuss any ideas, suggestions or issues in the house.
Twice per term the Food Forum meet to discuss ideas and feedback for our dining hall. All pupils have the opportunity to be part of the food forum and we would encourage you to get involved.
These meetings produce useful feedback for our catering team and it enables them to take on your wishes, where possible.
Fire Procedure
Your safety is our number one priority. When you arrive at the boarding house, please take time to read over the ‘Fire Order’ in your bedroom. This will outline your quickest and safest route out of the house in the event of a fire. There will be a fire drill early on in your time in the House.
If you discover a fire: Inform a member of staff immediately. If it is not safe to reach a member of staff, please raise the alarm by shouting FIRE.
If d l b d h l
If y p y pp y p a member of the House Staff or your Head of House. In school there are also members of staff you can speak to - the school nurses, your Form Tutor, your Head of Year or any member of staff you trust. Miss Langley is the school’s Child Protection Co-ordinator and you can find her in her office in the Playfair Building.
You have an opportunity to give your thoughts and opinions to the Head of House who will take this information to the Heads and Deputies meetings which are chaired by the Deputy Rector, Mr Pyper. You might also want to make use of our ‘Talk to Us’ feedback forms which can be accessed via the QR codes which can be found around the house. These forms can be accessed and filled out at any time and can be anonymous if you wish.
Your First Day: Getting Started
This is the start of an exciting new adventure for you. Some of you may have been to a boarding school before and for some of you this may be very new. Whether you are an experienced boarder or not, feeling a little bit nervous is very normal. Please do not worry if you have forgotten something or feel like you don’t know what to do next.
When you arrive, we would like you to unpack quickly and then come back downstairs to the sitting room and kitchen to meet your new housemates. There will always be something going on for you to join in with.
After you have unpacked please make your bed. There are spare hangers downstairs in the laundry room if needed – please help yourself. Please bring your suitcase to outside bedroom one, and it will be stored in the attic. A member of staff will show you where it goes.
Please do not move the furniture in your room. Posters can be put up on your notice board, wardrobe and on the back of your door but please do not put them on the walls.
Shoes are kept in the boxes at the front door or in the prep room. There will be a box which has your name on it. Please take off your shoes when you return to the house and store them in these boxes.
Passports and any important documents should be handed in to Mr or Mrs Johnston for safekeeping on arrival. Please ensure that you have an up-to-date visa and if you think there may be a problem with this let Mr/Mrs Johnston know as soon as possible.
Large sums of money should be given to the House Staff for safekeeping. You have a lockable cupboard in your room but you need to supply your own padlock for this. These can be easily ordered online.
The entrance to the house has a security lock. You will be told the code for your door – please do not give out this information to anyone outside the house.
If you travelled alone please make sure you phone home to let your parents/guardians know you have arrived safely.
Remember, homesickness is very normal over the first few days of being away. Please come and speak to a member of staff if you are feeling homesick. Our best advice for homesickness is to be busy and get involved in as much as you can.
Session 2024/2025 Term Dates
To view our term dates, please click here.
Packing List
Please make sure that all clothing is labelled with your daughter's name or initials.
School Uniform:
Kilt
Blazer
Two long sleeved shirts (worn October - April)
Two short sleeved shirts (worn April - October)
Black or navy tights
Jumper or cardigan - dark blue (not compulsory)
Flat black shoes (no boots)
Tie (worn October-April)
School scarf, hat and gloves (not compulsory)
Sports kit:
Skort
White Hockey Shirt
Leggings (plain black, or Dollar branded leggings)
Long Sleeve thermal base layer (optional but a good idea)
Navy mid-layer (again, not compulsory but a good idea)
Trainers
Long navy socks
Astro shoes (if playing hockey)
Gum shield (if playing hockey)
Navy swimming costume, swimming cap and goggles
Hockey stick (we may be able to lend your daughter one of these)
Tennis racket (we may be able to lend your daughter one of these)
Sports bag
Water bottle
For the boarding house:
Duvet, pillow, sheet, duvet cover and pillowcase
Two towels
Two mesh laundry bags, named, for underwear (zipped ones are best)
Casual clothes. We do the laundry every day, so there is no need to bring a lot. Usually we have the chance to dress up for parties at Christmas time, and at the end of the year, but there is normally the chance to go shopping for these events, and it is possible to have deliveries made to the house
Toiletries
For Schoolwork:
Pencil case
School bag
Paper/folders
Chargers/adaptors/electronic equipment:
Dollar Academy asks all pupils to have an appropriate electronic device for classroom and evening study use. You will receive communication about this directly from the school, but if you have any queries please let us know and we can put you in touch with the correct members of staff.
Hairdryers/straighteners etc – these are allowed
Please note that if your daughter is bringing electronics from abroad, we will only be able to allow adaptors that are fused.
Other items
We also ask that the girls bring a sleeping bag if possible, as we plan to go on an overnight camping trip in September.
You will be able to purchase uniform in advance from:
Hendersons of Stirling: (6/8 Friars Street Stirling FK8 1HB Tel: +44 (1786) 473681)
Aitken and Niven: (21-23 High Street Perth PH1 5TJ)
